Title (fr)

Publication

Application

Priority

US 9865298 A 19980617

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0966096A1] A frequency mixing system (10) provides an expanded dynamic range when compared to the dynamic range(s) of an individual mixer(s) (12) that makes up the frequency mixing system. The frequency mixing system adjusts (by 14) the amplitude of an input signal (S) to be frequency mixed (in 12) to produce a frequency converted signal (S<1> + D<1>) with an acceptable and/or lower (when compared to the amplitude of intermodulation distortion produced by mixing the input signal without amplitude adjustment) amplitude of intermodulation distortion. If the input signal were frequency mixed without the amplitude adjustment, an unacceptable and/or higher level of intermodulation distortion would result (when compared to the corresponding intermodulation distortion if the amplitude-adjusted signal were mixed by an individual mixer). Adjusting the amplitude of the input signal creates an adjusted signal (S+D) with signal distortion on a first path (20). The frequency mixing system uses a feed-forward arrangement to reduce the signal distortion created by adjusting the amplitude of the input signal, thereby producing the desired frequency converted signal with the lower and/or acceptable level of intermodulation distortion. For example, the signal distortion (D) from the first path can be placed on a second path (22), frequency converted using a second mixer (38) on the second path, and subsequently put back into the first path to combine (at 16) with the signal distortion on the first path to provide the desired frequency converted signal with the acceptable and/or lower level of intermodulation distortion. By increasing the relative difference between the amplitudes of the desired frequency converted signal and of the intermodulation distortion, the frequency mixing system provides an expanded dynamic range. <IMAGE>